The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is an agreement among the eight member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Established in 2006, its primary goal is to promote trade and economic cooperation by reducing tariffs and other trade barriers among member nations, which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAFTA aims to enhance regional integration and boost economic growth by facilitating easier access to markets. By lowering trade costs, it encourages countries to trade more with each other, ultimately benefiting consumers through a wider variety of goods and services at lower prices.